Artificial intraoral veneer and process of producing anatomically colored and contoured restorations utilizing same



m 1 9 .n s e 9 h m 21 e w m w s n. 2 ,Fm om E S0 STM EWS RFOvCG .JR N PDI L. NZ LDAI N L oAmr SRRW REO EELS NON .mLww .A Dn Nmmm S mmm mm` Lm A I 3T 5m 9 9 l l A. m 2 h. w M N n F INVENTOR. l NELSON INGERSOLL. JR j ORNEY o 7 9 .am 6G N 2T. C U D` O R P F m om SOE STM ENS RGO OCG JR N ,PDI L NZ N L OADI ET ASRRU REO EELS NON GECO V I mLmT @im NOC@ AIS RME TOR mm Lm A I C I nu. I m

Npv, 24,1953

2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan, 19, 1951 Agus JNVENToR. NELSON INGERSOLL. JR.

A ORNEY Patented Nov. 24, 195.3

OFFICE ARTIFICIAL INTRAORAL VENEER AND PROCESS F PRODUCING ANATOMI- CALLY COLORED AND CONTOURED RESTORATIONS UTILIZING SAME Nelson Ingersoll, Jr., York, Pa.

Application January 19, 1951, Serial No. 206,884

17 Claims. (Cl. 32-2) This invention relates to intra-oral restoration Veneers and to a process of producing anatomically colored and contoured replicas of natural gum tissues utilizing such veneers for the fabrication of intra-oral restorative devices or appllal'ls.

The general object of the present invention is to provide intra-oral restorative `'veneers and a process of producing restorative devices and appliances by means of which an unskilled worker Will be able to produce dentures o f proper anatomical shape and color even though such worker has no knowledge of the proper anatomical shapes and colors for high quality dentures.

At present it is possible for highly skilled technicians to produce dentures which are so shaped and colored, particularly at the buccal `and labial surfaces of such dentures, that they appear entirely natural. The production of such dentures necessitates special knowledge and technical skill on behalf of the technician and is a very long and laborious operation, the desired shapes of the labial and buccal surfaces having rst 4to be carved in carefully by the technician and the .desired colors have to be introduced by careful manipulationV of colors in the process.

, The vast majority of dentures now produced are not correctly formed either as to shape or color, particularly the portion of the dentures which Vrepresent the gums around the teeth which are so poorly shaped and improperly colored that it is at once apparent, if the mouth of the wearer is opened suiciently, that the wearer is employing a denture.

By means of the present invention I have pro- 'vided certain denture veneers through the use of which high quality dentures may be produced by technicians who lack both the knowledge of the correct shape and color required in high quality dentures, and also lack the necessary skill to produce the same by the present methods.

, The labial and buccal surfaces of the mouth which it is desired to reproduce in a quality den- .ture fall within a limited number of typical Varieties. Thus dentures may be classified as belonging to the ovoid, tapering or square type relative to alveolar angle in profile. By providing a limited number of sizes of each of these types it is possible to supply the technician with correctly shaped preformed strips which will enable the technician to produce in dentures the correct anatomical shape Without the necessity of hisy fusing particular skill. Furthermore, the correct coloring of the labial and buccal surfaces can be provided in ,a limited .number of typical varieties in the factory production of such denture veneers so that the technician may be supplied with a set of denture veneers sufficiently complete both as to anatomical shape and coloring that all he'is required to do is to make a proper selection to suit the natural anatomical shape and coloring of a patient in question. Slight discrepancies which may exist between a. factory produced denture veneer and a particular denture sought to be produced can be compensated for in the production of the denture which may be caused to yield slightly as the denture veneers are made of plastic or ilexible material.

In accordance with the present invention different types of denture veneers are produced. One type of such veneers is employed in producing a pattern which is later to be used to form the denture mold. This type of veneer is required to be only anatomically shaped but does not require coloring. Such veneers can be readily produced of a great variety of materialsI for example, a flexible plastic material, such as Vinylite. Another type of veneers are provided in accordance with the present invention which Y veneers are employedprimarily to produce the natural colorreplica in thedenture formed by the mold. These veneers become an integral part of the finally produced denture. This type of denture veneers will not only have correctly contoured surfaces to provide the correct anatomical shape, but also are colored and shaded. This second type of denture veneers can be made of 'any plastic or flexible material which can be united with and backed up by so-called denture base material to produce the final denture restoration. For example, where methyl methacrylate resin base material is to be employed in molding a restoration the denture veneers employed are strips made of methyl methacrylate resin in, however, a somewhat plastic state or incom pletely cured condition.

Further, in utilizing said veneer strips wherein the color pattern varies and. the color of the gingival areas of said strips particularly will differ from other areas thereof, the resins used to mold the denture base to back up the veneer strip may be furnished in a number of diiferent monotones or shades and the base material to be used with any particular strip may be selected to ing a strip of synthetic resinous material of substantially uniform thickness which may be either anatomically colored throughout its thickness or said strip may be transparent and have an anatomically colored replica superimposed on one surface thereof. This strip is also provided with an extension from the gingival area of the gum replica thereon and said extension is used as described hereinafter to prevent the occurrence of any color line of demarcation in the gingival area of the finished restoration in the event a base material of a color or shadefdiler-irg'fro'm the gingival area of said replica is used A still further embodiment ofthe invention comprises the use of a strip whichis provided with both an anatomical shape and=color pattern simulating natural gum tissues which may be used not only to form thecontourof the pat'- tern and the corresponding mold made therefrom but which strip is also bondable with the denture bese materiel in forming the finished restoration. said strip also being provided with an"extension extending lineuaily fromthe' gingival third for purposes of preventingany'color line of demarcation'in the event the base material is of as hade or color diierent .from the gingival areaof "said These denture veneers may beemployed. by the technician 'iria simple process hereieiter .described Awith'l the resultant production' oi" high ity dentures'of bothc'orrect and anatomical qu forni andoolorwithout requiring 'either' special knowledge or fspecial skill by the technician. Moreover, through the use of lsuch denture ve- 1iee'rs "the `process of producing high quality denturesis enormously reduced in time and the cost ofv'the resulting 'dentures likewise reduced. i r"Thedenture veneers Yof the "presentinvention', together: with the `novelA process `of4 producing dentures of this invention which utilizes such veneers, wiilV be'corn'pletely understood from the following descriptions ofpreferred examples of the invention." Ihe descriptions are given in connection with the accompanying drawings in v a'.

jFig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating a portiorref e' cest or"` e' patients v.mouth used in the process of the present invention; c Fig. 2 is a similarview' of thel cast showing in exploded'fiaslhiion the-'components `of. a preliminert' was reitero including a ilier strip' and one of the veneer strips; i i '*Fig 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of; the WaXPattcrn emi tc'etheddition applied to Vtoijris- 1 V producing. the iorin ci, Fig 2,: j is asimilar View to Fjs 1` aftcrthe'proper addi en.' of on ofthe denture 'veneers of the" presentirlveritiorl` l f' Fig. 5 is a' pian View of another type of one of such denture veneers;V Fig.l 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a mold produced from the pattern, witlli one of the veneersy of the present invention inserted'in place ih .such nomi l e y v. ""lig.` 'lisa vertical section through two molding members' prior to the introduction o denture base material therein; rFig; 8 is' a perspective View of a completed denture' restoration;

"FigiQ is a vsectional view of one of the veneer sir-,inserm on the; use r1-9 of Fis 5: '1 ii's- 1,0 isefplen 'View of another type of veneer strip of "thepresent invention; Fie-1.1. is e, .side elevation of the. Strip shown in Fig. 1p; y. i .e

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a mold having inserted therein a veneer strip of the types shown in Figs. and 11 prior to the introduction of denture base material into the mold;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on a plane transverse to the section shown in Fig. 12 and illustrating a mold and counterpart prior to the closing thereof and showing denture base material positioned in back of the veneer strip; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on the median line of a complete dental restoration embodyingthe type vf veneer strip illustrated in jillustratesmo're clearly details of the invention;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of still another type of Vveneer strip made -in accordance with the present invention:

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the veneer strip shown in and taken on the line I-I'l of Fig. 16. "fhe denture veneers ofthe present invention will bedescribed in connection with a preferred example `offthe process of producing dentures embodying the present invention. Referring to th'edra'wings, vin the process of the present invention there is first produced a cast of a patients mouthjw'hich cast may be made in any usual or preferred manner. A half section of such a cast is indicated at 2 in Fig. 1 of the drawings and normally such casts are produced using dental investing materials such as, for example, special gypsum-containing casting plaster.

rIhe next step in the process of producing dentures visV illustrated in Fig. 2. In accordance with any usual or preferred technique there is selected a set of artificial teeth such as indicated at 3, which teeth arethen attached to the cast 2 by the use of wax which, as indicated at 1i, forms a base plate to simulate the palate ofthe mouth and lingual surface, a portion of the wax employed being extended around as indicated at 5, at' the posterior or rear portion of the buccal surfaces, usually up to about the first molar area cf` the 'buccal'surface `Diiering from the usual practice, however, the wax is omitted from a por? tion of the buccal and labial surfaces as indicated at lV for the purpose of permitting each portion of thepattern being produced to be formed through the use of the denture veneers of the Y present invention.

' 'if indicates one of a typical denture veneer ofthe present invention o f the type used in producing Ythe pattern. This denture veneer has one edge B serrated or contouredas indicated c with a plurality of successive concave portions intended to simulate the gingival area of a natu rai gum line around a set of teeth, such as the set 34 The front surface 9 of such a denture ve` neer is shaped with undulations appearing as hills and dales as indicated at i and Il to correspond with the natural protuberances and depressions inthe labial and buccal surfaces of the gums over and between the roots of the teeth and terminating at the free margin of the gum in serrations 8. Fig. 4 illustrates how the portion of the surface 9 around each tooth (in an anatomically contoured denture) rises at the root lines of theA teeth with valleys at points intermediate of the teeth. As the natural anatomical alveolar prole fall into three different types, the

so-.called ovoid, tapering and square type (or plus, minus, and vertical. or zero) the natural type denture veneers indicated at 1 should be formed of a flexible 'and elastic material, such for example, as

a mixture of wax and a suitable resinous material in order to permit the strips to be conformed to the area 6 of the wax pattern 4 having any of said alveolar profiles. While in the drawings we have shown the process as carried out on onehalf of the pattern, it is to be understood that a complete cast and pattern are used in actual practice.

The denture veneers 'I are usually produced of average thickness of a few millimeters, such as 3, although because of the undulating hill and dale character of the front surface 9 thereof, the thickness will vary through the strip.

In using such a veneer 'I in forming the pattern it is first generally required that the labial and buccal surfaces of the cavity 6 be built up somewhat from the cast 2. For this purpose there may be used in the process of the present invention a number of plain, flat strips such as indicated at I2, which strips may be of any suitable plastic material and are usually provided in the form of strips about 1 millimeter in thickness, 10 millimeters in width, and 110 millimeters in length. Suicient of such strips are attached to the cast 2 by the use of adhesive and to each other to bring the labial and buccal surfaces of the cast up to the point where they may be iinished by the addition of the denture veneer 1. Then, as indicated in Fig. 4, the denture veneer 1 is placed in the cavity 6 and any deviation existing between the contour line 8 of the veneer and -the shape of the set of teeth 3 selected for the denture is readily compensated for by the technilcian working the exible strip against the teeth 3 until its gingival or gum line 8 correctly is in contact with the teeth 3, the flexible character of the strip permitting any slight stretching or compressing of the strip required to complete the pattern by forming an accurate anatomical contour on the buccolabial surface thereof. The lingual surface of the denture veneer 'I which is to the rear of the surface 9 may, in the process of manufacture, be provided with a suitable adesive or, if desired, such adhesive may be applied otherwise in the process of adding the denture veneer to the pattern.

#By this portion of the process there has now been produced a complete pattern, which pattern possesses a correct anatomical shape of the buccal and labial surfaces without the technician being compelled to hand carve on wax such surfaces in accordance with the practice heretofore employed. Such pattern is then employed to form a mold in accordance with any usual or preferred technique. In the completion of such a mold the produced mold and counterpart are separated, the wax portions 4 and 5 are removed from the mold, likewise the strips I2 and the veneer 1, leaving only the teeth 3 of the pattern invested in the mold with the ridge laps and retentive areas exposed. vIn Figs. 6 and 7 such a mold is indicated, Fig. 6 showing a half section of the portion of the mold I which retains the artificial teeth 3 of the pattern, and I6 in Fig. '7 representing the counterpart of the mold. When the two mold members I5 and I6 are pressed together, as indicated in Fig. '7, there is a cavity I1 therebetween, in which `cavity is to be produced the denture which will be attached to the teeth 3. At this step of the process, if desired, any usual technique may be employed in producing a denture, a finished denture being indicated in Fig. 8. In such a case the labial surfaces I9 of the denture, as well as certain of the buccal surfaces 20, will be correctly and anatomically shaped but they will lack the variation" in color characteristic of naturalsurfaces.

, Where such natural coloring is desired in the process of the present invention there is ern^ ployed the second veneer strip such as indicatedat I8 in Fig. 6. For each veneer strip I intended to be employed in the production of the pattern there should be provided an identically shaped veneer strip I8.

VThese anatomically contoured veneer strips are fabricated to not only impart desired anatomical shape thereto such as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 particularly but said strips are also provided.

licas of natural gum tissues may be formed on` a suitable base sheet by printing or otherwise and then transferred to one surface of the strip I8 by, for example, a decalcomania process. In instances where the strip I8 has a color pattern or replica on one surface only, the strip should be preferably substantially transparent. Still further, a color pattern or replica of natural gum tissues may be formed on the strip I8, for example, by printing respectively on a plurality of thin transparent resinous sheets separate color patterns comprising the primary color componentsv of a composite vari-colored natural gum pattern. Said sheets are bondable with each other when superimposed so as to form such composite vari-colored natural gum pattern and the bonded sheets are also bondable with the base material from which the finished denture restoration is molded. In this instance, another layer of trans- 1 parent resinous material having the anatomical contour of natural gum tissues on one surface is also bonded to the composite colored strips so as to form a protective layer thereon which Will comprise the bucco-labial surface on the finished denture restroation.

Still another method of forming the strip I 8 comprises, in lieu of the immediately aforementioned superimposed color pattern strips, utiliz-` ing a plurality of color pattern forming strips which are respectivelycolored a monotone of the three primary colors and the respective strips are transversely shaped to have variable thickness in order to produce varying intensity of color simulating a desired color pattern, whereby when said strips are superimposed on each other and bonded together, a desired vari-colored natural gum strip replica will be produced for addition to an outer transparent protective layer having suitable anatomical contour on one surface similar to the protective layer described in the immediately foregoing example.

In producing such natural colors and shades in the aforementioned patterns and replicas, a lighter anjd usually varied color will appear around the root eminences such as atIIlA, while the papillae and the depressions between such eminences will be a darker shade and of varying .color as indicated at IBB.

Denture veneers I8 should be made of a resinous material so that the serrated gingival edge of eerst iththe teeth 3 in theme14. f rne eqn.- toi-ir .reus f .ljtre'iit ferait feiftjiis .smily rrodlid .denture ist. .oratloit Accordingly? they Shfiiildbe meds- ;f a .material Suitable fr uniting with .the has@ .material u'tdln molding the derlture. For example, when methyl methacrylate resins are ,employed for producing the desired denture contour veneers I8 are likewise formed of methyl methacrylate or suitable resinous material bondable therewith.

Fles .6 and '1 .illustrate ghow. iii practice 0f the process of the present invention, one of such denture .Veneers I8 is plated in the meld around the teeth. yIhereupon sufficient denture base molding composition is added to fill the remaining portion f the cavity I illustrated in Fig. '7, the two molding members closed, and the mold and its f :girftents' subjected to the `usual curing treatment.

As `a result of this process a denture of the type illustrated in Fig 8 is produced in which the veneer strip I 8, provided with ya preformed contour and color pattern or replica, becomes an integral part of the finished denture. By this process a denture is produced having buccolabia-l vsurfaces the contour and coloring of which is entirely natural in appearance.

.Another type of veneer strip embodying princ iples of the present invention is illustrated in plan view in Fig. l0 and in side elevation in Fig. 11. This strip comprises a sheet 22 of substantially transparent synthetic resinous material upon one surface of which is superimposed a.

color pattern or replica 24 simulating naturalgum tissues in appearance. The strip 22 is relatively thin and, for example, of the order of about .025. The color pattern 2li illustrated in Fig. l1 is exaggerated in order to make the same visible in the drawing. Actually, this color pattern is much thinner than the strip 22. Said stripk is formed of a resinous material such, for example, as an acrylic or a vinyl compound which is bondable with the resinous material from which the denture base is formed.

The color pattern may be superimposed upon one surface of the strip 22 by a number of methods such as; multi-color printing thereon to form a vari-.colored pattern composed of thethree primary colors, or by a stenciling process either with or without spraying, or by forming a desired vari-colored replica on a backing sheet and then transferring said replica or pattern t0 the strip 22 by a decalcomania process. Further, the strip 22 may be provided with a photo-sensitive coating on one surface and said coating may b e exposed to a desired negative to develop in said coating an anatomically colored pattern or replica simulating natural gum tisf sues.

"he color pattern 2li also comprises relatively lighter. Vtinted. areas 26 which ultimately form the gingival areas disposed adjacent the teeth in the 'finished denture restoration. The pattern, as in the strip Iii illustrated in Fig. 5, has generally darker color areas 28 which will be disposed on the areas of the denture restoration in the vicinity of the peripheral border of said restoration for example. Said pattern also comprises an extension 3U which is preferably col- Qre'd approximately e. monotone. torrespondine t6 the lighter tinted areas 2B for reasons to be c'l`esc"rbed.` Therefore, this extension 30 may be referred t0 as. a.. gitigival extensionle teintes e, @letture restoration. utilizing the.

Strip ,2.2. .a .mold L5 fis `.f Qlmd .by a process described herenbefore in .connection .with utiliz.- lng previously described strips, .said mold hav.- ing the teeth 3 invested therein so that the gingival necks and ridge ,laps 32 ,and other retentive areas are exposed in the mold. Ihe bucco-labial forming surface of the cavity of mold I5 is provided with desired anatomical contour in .a manner similar to that described relative to Figs. 2, 3, and 4 concerning the useof strip 1.. Thus, the mold cavity surface will impart the desired bucco-labial anatomical contour to the finished denture. The strip .22 which is in a -exible and readily pliable, uncured state is used to impart a desired anatomical varifcolored pattern to the bucco-labial surface of the finished denture restoration.

.One of said strips is approximately trimmed along the dotted line 34 and the trimmed strip is placed in the mold as shown in Figs. 12 and 13V, whereby the gingival extension 3l) is disposed so as to at least cover a substantial portion o f the ridge laps 32 of the teeth as clearly shown in `these figures. After the strip 22 is introduced into the mold, the portion thereof which Will form the peripheral margin 36 is pressed against the edge `38 of the cavity in mold I5 to impress into one surface of the strip 22 a line defining the peripheral margin of the strip. The strip is then temporarily removed from the mold cavity and tr1mmed. In placing the strip 22 in the mold cavity the surface thereof opposite that having the color pattern thereon is placed against the surface of the mold cavity, whereby the color pattern 2a is uppermost in the mold as viewed in Fig. 13.

In the preferred technique, a plurality of rolls or balls of denture base material 40 are formed and are placed against the color pattern 24 of the strip 22 and manually pressed so as to preliminarily conform or adapt the flexible strip 22 to the contour of the buccal and labial forming surfaces of the mold cavity. Such pressure will also serve to conform the gingival eXtenslon 3i) to the ridge laps and retentive areas of the teeth and thereby said extension 30 serves 1n the capacity of a barrier or dam to prevent the passage of the base material 4B down into the mold cavity portions which will form particularly the interdental papillae. The color pattern lstalso preferably provided with a notch 42 to nc ion as a reference oint f .Y strip 22 in the mold. p or Centermg the The final molding of the denture now takes place by placing the counterpart I6 ofthe mold against the balls of dough-like denture base materlal ISI) as shown in Fig. 13. Pressure is then applled to counterpart I6 to cause the lingual and palatal forming surfaces 44 thereof to cooperate with the opposed complementary surfaces 1n the cavity of mold` I5 in order to spread the balls of base material Il@ and distribute them throughout the cavity I'I in the mold as illustrated in Fig. '7 in connection with one of the previously described embodiments so as to form the completed denture restoration. It is understood of course that the ballsV of base material 40 wlll blend homogeneously during such molding Qso that no lines of demarcation are formed. It 1s also 'to be understood that the above ldescribed operatlon may include one or more trial closures of the mold to determine Whether or not the base material 40 completely fills the cavity I'I and if" necessary, additional material may be added until the. operator is certain that thecavity is filled ,asbesto practice.

. During such final molding, the base material 40, in being forced against the color pattern surface of the strip 22, disposes the strip into exact conformity with the surface of the cavity in the `mold l and including those areas of the cavity which form the interdental papillae projecting between adjacent teeth. Due to the aforementioned function of the gingival extension 30 of rthe strip 22 none of the base material will be visible on the buccal or labial surfaces of the nished .denture restoration except at the peripheral margin `thereof where it will be unnoticed in normal use. Thereby the color. pattern imparted to the finished denture restoration by embodiment of a strip 22 as aforesaid results in complete control of the visible areas of the bucco-labial surfaces .of the restoration which are visible during use.

, After the denture has been cured in accordance with conventional practice while in the assembled mold and counterpart, the mold parts are removed from the completed denture restoration in accordance with conventional practice. The surfaces of the denture restoration are then nished by bufling and the like to impart the usual desirable lustre thereto and the thickness of the transparent strip 22 which has now been integrally bonded to the molded base material comprises a protective layer over the likewise bonded color pattern 24. The thickness of the strip 22 is adequate to permit a reasonable amount of buffng during the aforementioned finishing operations without risking lphysical engagement of the color pattern 24 and the transparency of the strip 22 readily permits the pattern 24 to show therethrough to present `the desired anatomical vari-colored pattern to simulate natural gum tistues as well as having the desired anatomical contour. Further, the finished strip portion of the denture restoration also protects the color pattern from normal intra-oral fluids and abrasive actions such as occur during mastication and cleansing.

The finished denture restoration made in accordance with the last described process is illustrated in profile section in Fig. 14 and, in order to better illustrate the structure and relationship of the strip 22 as bonded to the denture base 46, Fig. 15 represents an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the denture shown in Fig. 14. However, Fig. 15 is used primarily to illustrate the aforementioned relationship rather than to show the exact anatomical contour which will be imparted to the bucco-labial surface of the denture restoration 'by the aforementioned process. Fig. 15, which is a sectional view through one of the anterior teeth, the strip 22 extends over the denture base 46 to form the labial surface thereof, the normal gingival roll 48, and then conforms to the gingival neck 50 of the anterior teeth 3 and the ridge lap 32. The color pattern or replica 24 is disposed between the inner surface of strip 22 and the denture base 46 as is` clearly shown in Fig. 15 wherein replica 24 is represented merely by a line due to the thinness thereof.

In dentures whereA the teeth 3 are formed from resinous material similar to or bondable with the strip 22 and denture base 46, a chemical bond will be formed between said teeth 3, base 46 and strip 22 during the above described curing operation. However, where the teeth 3 are, for example, formed from porcelain or resinous material which is dissimilar to the resinous material of strip 22 and denture base 46 so as not to be bond InV denture base 46 and strip 22 by any suitable mechanical means such, for example, as undercut areas in the teeth, metal pins, or the like., Also, the pigment carrier or vehicle of the replica pattern 24 is preferably compatible with the denture base material 46 and the strip 22 so as to bond to the molded denture base 46 and the strip 22 during the curing thereof in the mold.

A still further embodiment of veneer strip may be used in the form illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17, the latter merely being a sectional view of the former. This veneer strip 52 is formed from suitable synthetic resinous material which is capable of being molded to impart desired anatomical contour thereto similar to that provided on strips i and i8 described above. The veneer strip 52 may be used in lieu of the strip 'l to form a pattern from which the mold I5 is made. However, when the wax pattern 4 is removed from the mold following its formation, the strip 52 is not removed from the mold as in the case of the strip 1 in the above described processes but the `strip 52 is retained in the mold while the denture base material 40 is added thereto for purposes of forminga nished denture restoration. The strip 52 is provided with an anatomical color pattern similarly to the strip I8, said pattern being formed thereon 4by any of the methods described above in regard to strip I8. The strip 52 is also bondable with the base material 40 during the curing of the molded denture restoration so that the denture base 46 and the strip 52 which comprises the bucco-labial surface thereof will be integrally bonded thereto.

In order toprevent passage of any of the base material 46 between the strip 52 and the teeth 3 during the molding of the denture restoration, a barrier in the form of a ridge lap extension 54 projects from the lingual surface 56 of the strip 52. When the pattern 4 is being formed from which the mold i5 is made, the extension 54 is inserted in the wax between the crest of the ridge of the cast 2 and the ridge lap surfaces 32 of the teeth 3. When the denture base material 4i) is added to the mold cavity,` it is applied against the extension 54 to press the same into rm en-.j gagement with the ridge lap areas of the teeth and thereby obstruct the passage of the base material 40 to the bucco-labial surfaces of the teeth or the spaces therebetween into which the papillae simulating projections 58 of strip 52 extend. During the final molding of the denture restoration, the pressure of the base material 46 against the strip 52 and extension 54 will force the papillae projections 56 into the interstices in the mold cavity between the gingival necks of the teeth and the final curing will firmly set the strip 52; and bond it to the denture base 46 which backs up the strip in the completed denture restoration.` As explained in connection with the foregoing descriptions of Fig. 14 and the attachment of the teeth 3 to the nished denture restoration, either chemical or mechanical bonds will be formed. between the teeth and the denture base 46, de,-V

pending upon the composition of the teeth; .thev

strip 52 however being chemically bonded to saidbase 46.

It will thus be seen that the foregoing inven-i ing similar principles, the process being readilyl.

11 susceptible to being performed by mash-illedV cperators to quickly 'and accurately fabricate 'such denture restorations;

'While the invention and the `various items and features thereof have been illustrated and described in their preferred embodiments, it is tolbe understood that the invention is not to be limited to'the precise details herein illustrated and de'- scribed since the'same may be carriedout inV other `Ways', Vfalling Within the sope of the invention as claimed.

V:This application is acontinuation-in-part of-my application 'Serial No. 126,998, 'led November v14, 19`49, no'vv abandoned.

" claim: '4

1.- A'dentureveneer strip formedfrom substantiallytransparent Vsynthetic resinous material bendable to an artiiicial intra-oral restoration, said strip having on one surface thereof a Varicolored replica simulating vari-coloredl natural gum" tissues.

2 A denture veneerstrirl formed from substanf tially "transparent synthetic resinous material bondable to an artificialA intra-oral restoration, said" strip having'aY vari-colored replicaV simula't ing-'"'vari-colore'd natural jguin' tissues visible through said strip,

'8.- v4.Ai'vdentlire vencer strip comprising a plurality of'thin substantialiy'transparent resinous sheets having 'disposed therebetween a color pattern simulating: atleast a'portion of vari-colored natural'rgum tissue visiblefthrough at least one of said sheets, said'sheets being bondable with each otherwhen superimposedv and `also bondable to an artificial intra-oral restoration.

4L A denture' veneer strip of substantially uniform thickness and formed from substantially transparent synthetic resinous material bondable to an'artiicial intra-oral restoration, said strip having on ene' surface thereof a vari-colored replica', simulating vari-colored natural'gum tissues.

5f.' A denture veneer strip formed fromsubstanf tirally transparent materialy of the class of acrylic andvinylresinous c'ompounds `and bondable `te anfarticial intra-oralrestorationz said strip bc-l ciirabl'e tov a'rrncondition and 'having on one surface" thereof a vari-colo'red'replica simulating colo/red" natural gum tissues. i6; Adenturevcneer strip formed from substantially transparent methyl methacrylate and bond-v ablto an artificial intra-oral resteration, said st' p' being-'curable to avfirm condition andhayying'en'one surface thereof a Vari-'colored replica simulating vari-colored natural gumy tissues.

"TUA" denture veneer strip forined from a Asubstantiallyl transparent 'copolymer of vinyl chloride aidvinyl acetate and bc'ndable to an'artifcial intraeoral restoration, said strip being vcurablel te affirm condition and havingv on one surface thereofi'a'varircolored replica simulating vari-colored natural gum tissues.

`8".1`Aede'nture veneer strip formed frcrmsynthetic resinousvmaterial bondableto an artificial intra-oral restoration, said strip having on one surface thereof Va vari-'colored replica simulatingA vari-colored natural gum tissuesand aY portion of said strip extending beyond said replica of gum tissues and comprisinga gingival extension.

911A dentureveneer strip formed from substan-` tially transparent synthetic Vresinous materiall bondable. to, an artificial intra-oral restoration.

12 beyond said replica of gum tissuesto comprise a gingival extension.

10.`A denture veneer strip formed from synthetic resinous material bondable to an artificial intra-oral restoration, said strip having on one surface` thereof a vari-colored replica simulate ingv vari-colored natural gum tissues, a portion of said strip extending beyond said replica of gum tissues to comprise a gingival extension and colored similarly tothe portions of said gum tissue replica immediately adjacent said gingival extension. i

'11. A denture veneer strip formed from syntheticresinousmaterial bondable to an artificial intra-oral restoration, said strip having on one surface thereof acolored replica simulatingvaricolored natural gum Vtissues and a portion of said strip not less than approximatelylone thirdvthe vertical dimension thereof in use extending beyond said replica lofgum tissues to comprise a gingival extension.

1.2; A denture veneer strip formed fromsubstantiall'y transparent synthetic resinous material bondable to an artificial intra-oral restoration,V said striphavinga color pattern simulating Vari-colored natural gum tissues superimposed on one surface of saidV strip and the other surface of said strip havingundulations formed therein to simulate a` natural gum contour.

13'; A vdenture veneer strip formed from sub-A stantially transparent` synthetic resinous material bondable to arg1-artificial intra-oral restoration, said strip having one surface substantially flat and a color pattern simulating vari-colored natural'gum tissues superimposed onsaid one surf-ace Vo f saidjstrip, the other surface of said strip vbeing undulated to simulate a natural gum @immun 1al- Aldenture veneer Strip formed from sub- Stalltiallr Synthetic kresinous material confiable artificial intraroral restoration and having a cplor- 'pattern simulating. vari-.colored natural gum tissues. one surface of said strip bejing substalltlally Hat and the. ,other surface .thereof being uildulltecl. i0 Simulatea natural gum contour, ancla vsiinsiva1-. extension, proiectinsat. an angleV fomheflat surfa'ceof said strip adjacent the al 'aratheref the. thickness.. fif-4 said sin walv extension ,ibei'rlsle'ssthan. the average tli knees o'f said Strip.;

15-`1Akprepess of producing an anatomically. cQniQured and.; vari-,Colored li,iitracral. restera t' @imma arnold-ravine ,c d anatema y l al, senteur including attacco,- lab alsilrfaee .andermaal teeth-mounted there Wltllctber'ils v elQthercretentive.areas expose@ plasma Wit. Said mold; against.v they bucce-.labial,forminasurface .therecflcne surface.; of .a 4srnthetic., rcsinous veneer strip,Y said4 strip having, thereon .a vlvariecolored pattern simulatay ing raricolored naturalgum tissues, ,bendingv one edgeA of said strip against said .retent-ivearcas' of theteeth in such mannekes to provide' extensive contact betrvveen. said lone. lsurface .of said strip and said retentive. areas and to form a pocket in the.v other surface .of-said strip s adjacent said teeth,..whereby.said strip. for-ms a barrier to. prevent flovv -..of.moulding-.material between said'- strip andcsaid. teeth, forcing said stripL into con-I formity Awith .said bucco-labial forming surfaceV of lsaid moldby placingrwithin said mold against thecther surface cf-saidyeneer.strip'lmolding ma 13 neer strip within said mold to bond together the same and thereby form a completely hardened and cured intra-oral restoration having a desired anatomical contour and a vari-colored pattern on the bucco-labial surface thereof simualting natural vari-colored gum tissues.

16. A process of producing an anatomically contoured and vari-colored articial denture comprising, forming a mold having artificial teeth mounted therein With the ridge laps and retentive areas thereof exposed and said mold also having a prescribed anatomical contour including a bucco-labial surface, placing within said mold -against the bucco-labial forming surface thereof one surface of a iiexible uncured synthetic resinous veneer strip having thereon a vari-colored pattern simula-ting vari-colored natural gum tissues and a gingival extension, disposing said gingival extension over said ridge lap areas of said teeth, placing Within said mold against the other surface of said veneer strip and covered ridge lap areas molding material bondable with said veneer strip, and molding by heat and pressure said material and veneer strip with its gingival extension within said mold to cure and bond together the same and thereby form an artificial denture having a desired yanatomical contour and a vari-colored pattern on the bucco-labial surface thereof simulating natural vari-colored gum tissues.

17. A 'process of producing an anatomic-ally contoured and vari-colored artificial denture comprising forming a mold having artificial teeth mounted therein with the ridge laps and retentive areas exposed and said mold also having a prescribed anatomical contour including a buccolabial surface, placing within said mold against the bucco-labial forming surface thereof one surface of a exible uncured synthetic resinous veneer strip having a vari-colored pattern visible through -said strip and simulating vari-colored natural gum tissues, said strip also having along one edge an -aera defining a gingival extension, disposing said gingival extension over said ridge laps and retentive areas of said teeth, introducing into sai-d mold against the other surface of said veneer strip and covered ridge lap areas and retentive yareas molding material bondable with said veneer strip, and molding said material and veneer strip within said mold while heated and under pressure to cure and bond together the same and thereby form an articial denture having -a desired anatomical contour and a varicolored pattern visible on the bucco-labial surface thereof simulating natural vari-.colored gum tissues.

NELSON INGERSOLL, JR.

References cited in the nie of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 88,228 Streeter Mar. 23, 1869 644,583 Doyle Mar. 6, 1900 810,184 Broadbent Jan. 16, 1906 1,585,348 I-Iick et al. May 18, 1926 1,750,810 Miller Mar. 18, 1930 2,234,993 Vernon et al. Mar. 18, 1941 2,367,767 Gale Jan. 23, 1945 2,423,330 Levine July 1, 1947 2,520,265 Warren Aug. 29, 1950 2,551,812 Nelson May 8, 1951 

